Brownies are the perfect comfort food with rich chocolate flavor and gooey texture.
However, they can be loaded with unhealthy fats, especially vegetable oil instead of butter or canola.
Luckily, there are healthier ways to make brownies that are just as tasty but lower in calories, such as using applesauce instead of vegetable oil in this recipe.
The trick to replacing vegetable oil in brownies without altering the texture is to cut back on the sugar and use fewer eggs than usual.
These substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies will satisfy your craving without sabotaging your diet.
1. Olive Oil
You might not think to put olive oil in your brownies, but it can be among the great substitutes for vegetable oil!
It will give your brownies a delicious flavor and make them nice and moist.
Olive oil is also a healthy option. To substitute olive oil for vegetable oil in your brownies, use the same amount of olive oil as you would.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an excellent substitute for vegetable oil in brownies. It has a similar consistency and will give your brownies a nice coconut flavor. Plus, it’s a healthy alternative to vegetable oil.
Substitute the same amount of coconut oil as you would vegetable oil. If you have none, melted butter can be used instead of coconut oil.
3. Butter
Butter is probably the most obvious substitute for vegetable oil in brownies.
After all, it’s fat and solid at room temperature, just like vegetable oil.
Plus, butter adds a delicious richness and flavor you can’t get from vegetable oil.
Mix the butter with the dry ingredients to substitute butter for vegetable oil in brownies.
4. Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is also one of the great substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies.
It has a similar consistency and will make your brownies as moist and delicious.
Plus, it’s packed with healthy fats and antioxidants. Substitute the same amount of avocado oil as you would vegetable oil.
5. Sunflower Oil
You can use sunflower oil as a substitute for vegetable oil in brownies. The taste will be slightly different, but the texture will be the same.
Sunflower oil has a higher smoke point than vegetable oil, so it can be used in recipes that call for higher baking temperatures.
It’s also a good choice if you’re looking for an oil with a neutral flavor.
6. Shortening
Shortening is a type of fat used in baking. It is made from vegetable oils, such as soybean or cottonseed oil.
Shortening is solid at room temperature and has a higher melting point than butter, making it ideal for baked goods.
Most recipes, including brownies, can be used instead of butter or margarine.
When substituting shortening for butter, use an equal amount of shortening and decrease the recipe’s liquid content by two tablespoons per cup of shortening.
Shortening can also make brownies fudgier by replacing some butter with shortening.
7. Coconut Oil
You can use coconut oil as a 1:1 substitute for vegetable oil in brownies. Not only does it add a delicious flavor, but it also makes the brownies moister.
Be sure to use refined coconut oil, though, so there is no coconut flavor. You can also use olive, avocado, or even melted butter.
8. Bananas
Believe it or not, bananas can be used as a substitute for vegetable oil in brownies.
This healthy fruit is packed with nutrients like potassium and fiber, which can help give your brownies a moist, delicious texture.
To use bananas as a vegetable oil substitute, mash them and add them to your brownie batter.
You may need to experiment with the amount of banana you use, depending on how moist you want your brownies to be.
9. Yogurt
You can use yogurts as healthy substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. Just be sure to use plain, unsweetened yogurt. This swap will work best with chocolate brownies.
You may need to add extra sugar to balance the yogurt’s tartness.
Also, this substitution is more likely to produce a gooey or crumbly brownie than a crisp and chewy one.
10. Applesauce
You might not think that applesauce would make a suitable substitute for vegetable oil in brownies, but it works well!
Applesauce adds moisture and natural sweetness to the brownies and helps to keep them nice and moist.
Plus, it’s a healthy alternative to vegetable oil. To substitute applesauce for vegetable oil in your brownie recipe, add 1/2 cup of applesauce for every 1/2 cup.
11. Canola Oil
Canola oil is also among the great substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies.
Its neutral flavor will not affect the taste of your brownies. Plus, it’s a healthy alternative to other oils.
To substitute canola oil for vegetable oil in brownies, use the same canola oil as you would.
12. Vanilla Extract
You might not think of vanilla extract as an oil, but its high alcohol percentage makes it a great recipe substitution.
Add the same amount of vanilla extract as you would vegetable oil.
The flavor will be more subtle than oil, so feel free to add an extra teaspoon or two if you want a more robust vanilla flavor.
13. Buttermilk
You can substitute buttermilk for vegetable oil in a 1:1 ratio. Just use the same amount of buttermilk as you would oil.
This substitution works best in cakes and quick loaves of bread. The acidity in buttermilk will react with baking soda to create a tender, soft crumb.
Buttermilk also adds a nice flavor to baked goods. If you don’t have any on hand, milk is among the substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies.!
14. Vinegar
If your recipe calls for two tablespoons of oil, substitute one tablespoon of vinegar and one tablespoon of water.
Vinegar’s acidic nature reacts with leavening agents in the recipe to help produce light, fluffy brownies or blondies.
15. Agave Nectar
For one cup of oil in your brownie recipe, try substituting half agave nectar (100 grams) and half water (50 grams).
Agave has a low glycemic index, so it won’t spike your blood sugar levels like other sweeteners might do when eaten alone.
16. Fruit Puree
Various fruit purees can be used as substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. Just make sure to use the same puree as you would oil.
Pureed fruits will add natural sweetness and moisture to your brownies, so you may want to reduce the sugar in your recipe by half.
You can also experiment with different fruit purees to see your favorite flavors.
17. Cornstarch
You might not think of cornstarch as an oil, but it can be used as a replacement in many recipes.
Mix cornstarch and water to create a slurry, then add it to your brownie batter.
The result will be a slightly denser brownie that is just as delicious. Similarly, you can also use other starches, like tapioca or arrowroot starch.
18. Margarine
You can use margarine as a one-to-one substitute for vegetable oil in brownies. Because margarine is solid at room temperature, you must melt it before using it.
When using substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies, especially margarine for oil, use an equal amount of margarine. If your recipe calls for 1/2 cup of oil, use 1/2 cup of margarine.
Conclusion
Butter, olive, and coconut oil are great substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. You can also use avocado, peanut, canola, or sunflower oil.
If you want a healthier option, try using applesauce or mashed bananas. For a unique flavor, try using pumpkin puree or sweet potato puree.
